Okay, so here is my story. About two weeks ago, I started plugging in my truck as the temps here in Saskatchewan, Canada are getting a little on the low side. The overnight temp was only -3C one morning (27F) in the morning, but I didn't know what the weather was going to do, so I had the truck plugged in overnight. This was never a problem with my 2002.

In the morning, on the way to work it threw a Check Engine Light on the Display. Not being sure what the issue was, I made an appointment to take it into the local dealership. When I phoned the dealership, at 11:00 the next morning after dropping the truck off overnight, they had already diagnosed the problem and applied "the fix". The code that was thrown was described to me as "excessive engine temperature at startup". The fix that they applied was to install a block heater cord with a themostat that will only turn on the block heater at -18C (0F). $240 later, I now have a truck that will barely start with an ineffective block heater. I am a little steamed, to say the least.


If I may apply for some group knowledge here, is there anyone else operating with a -18C (0F) cutoff on their block heaters? I have a couple of neighbors that have this on their 2007 gassers. Is there an option for a -10C (14F) thermostat? Is this a common installation on the newer D-max's?

I would like to get my fact straight before I take the truck back to the dealer and have him reverse his installation of the low temp block heater. If I have to get a tuner to clear the DIC codes, I think that it would be a better option then starting my engine cold. Better use of my $$ as well.

TLG

You probably got the P0181 code, (coolant temp and fuel temp differ by something like 18 deg F), which is not uncommon when using the coolant block heater.
GM's first fix was not to use block heater above 0 deg F.
Then I believe GM redesigned the cord for the heater with a thermostat, and supposedly the heater will not work above 0 deg F. BS!
Search "P0181" and you'll find lots of reading.
If your old cord was bad, it's probably in the trash. Maybe you can find an old style cord, because I think they only come now with the thermostat.
If you could find the odd style plug, maybe you could make your own cord.

It appears like the thermostat is at the end of the cord. I could simply cut off the end of the cord and attach a replacement plug.

Is this seriously GM's fix? That's pretty messed up.

See now that is strange as I don't plug mine in till -15C atleast and have not had a problem. If you are having a starting prob, what I do when it is really cold out is cycle the glow plugs turn the engine over about half a turn and then repeat 2 or 3 times and she fires, but I have only had to do this when I get caught with my pants down and it is like -25 to -30. We have been seeing -10 to -15 here in Calgary off and on and the cord has not come out of the garage once, I go out and let the glow plugs cycle and it starts right up?? Maybe I have a lucky truck or something?????

Thanks to everyone that posted: it looks like I am a little late to this discussion. Search with the code helped to find this:

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2345691&postcount=16

That doesn't mean that I agree with it . . .

TLG